With the PS5 now being delivered around the world, Sony has introduced us to the first launch-day console in the history of PlayStation consoles that is predominantly white.
This follows the initial reveal of PS5 DualSense controller - a rather odd-looking white and black almost chunky thing to hold in our hands. And now there's a leaked image doing the rounds, hinting at a black PS5 console AND controller.
Table of Contents
- UPDATE: Sony confirms no black PS5 at launch
- Will the PS5 design be white only?
- PS5 Custom Faceplate Leaks?
- How will the PS5 design stand out?
- Black PS5 teased by new images from FCC and more
- Has Sony commented on the PS5 colours?
- Wait, there's a gold PS5?
- Will we get a Special Edition PS5?
- PS5 pre-orders are live NOW for the white version
READ MORE: PS5 UI vs Xbox Series X UI
Primarily, we're wondering if the white and black PS5 from the reveal event is the only version of the console that we'll be able to buy at launch...
UPDATE: Sony confirms no black PS5 at launch
A few days away from the PS5's release, Sony's announced that there will be no colour variations on the PS5's two-tone design at launch - which is unsurprising, to be honest.
In a huge FAQ post about the PS5, Sony confirmed that "there won’t be additional colors or designs available for either of the PS5 models at launch."
Of course, the key phrase here is 'at launch', as this leaves open the possibility for a black PS5 in the future, we just don't know when...
READ MORE: Does the PS5 have an internet browser?
Will the PS5 design be white only?
The original PS4 was black; it was sleek, it was svelte, it was stunning. Would the team at Sony break away from that to make a white PS5 design - as the only option - a reality?
It wouldn't be totally unheard of: after all, some of us bought a PS4 when Destiny came out, and that version of the PS4 was white. And back in the day, the PS1 was an iconic shade of light-ish grey.
The mostly-white PS5 is the only PS5 you can buy at launch - certainly, it's the only one you can order right now. But it might not be the only option forever.
READ MORE:Confirmed PS5 launch window titles
PS5 Custom Faceplate Leaks?
There are loads of options for customizing consoles nowadays, with some retailers dedicated to creating some truly fantastic and unique skins.
One feature introduced to the PS4 were custom faceplates, which allowed you to customize your PS4 in just 5 seconds (according to the ad!)
It's not yet known if we could see this with PS5. Images have surfaced online of custom PS5 plates, but the legitimacy of these photos is doubtful, given they could easily be 3D printed.
We're also not sure if it would be as straight forward to just click off a panel on the next-gen console, as it appears to be on PS4.
But it certainly would be an awesome addition!
READ MORE: PS5 faceplates: PlayStation 5 teardown video hints at custom panels in the future
How will the PS5 design stand out?
The main aim is standing out. In a world of electronics and gadgets, a lot of them go for black as a way of looking cleaner.
It's far easier to ignore the fingerprints your toddler left on your shiny new console if the console is pitch black.
Of course, that assumes that the fingerprints aren't porridge, but that's not the point. The main competition for Sony is Microsoft, and Microsoft has already shown that the Xbox Series X will be a black obelisk of a machine.
READ MORE: PS5 DualSense controller vs Xbox Series X controller
Given that Sony wants to make a splash here, they want to be a little rebellious, and releasing the first wave of PS5 consoles in white would be very striking indeed.
Few TV stands are white, which would make the PS5 this alluring oddity sitting at the centre of your entertainment hub, just calling out and waiting to be played.
It makes far more sense for them to lean into this aesthetic and just own it, rather than having the DualSense contrast with the console itself. Who knows, though? Sony staff, probably. The rest of us will just have to wait and see...
Black PS5 teased by new images from FCC and more
Photos of a black DualSense controller surfaced online following the discovery of a US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) listing filed by Sony for a black version of the PS5's controller.
The listing, which can be viewed here, was submitted in April, and includes images of an all-black PS5 controller, seen in the below Tweet.
While this device is almost certainly real, as its buttons do not have any markings, it could instead be a prototype version of the DualSense, handed out to developers or testers, for example. If this is the case, we might never see anything come to fruition from these images.
However, we're remaining confident that this is proof enough that Sony hasn't thrown out ALL of its black paint.
Furthermore, this leaked image has been doing the rounds on ResetEra, although not everyone is convinced that it's real...
Could this mean that a plain black PS5 is in the pipeline, perhaps as an option for late adopters that don't buy the white one at launch?
Only time will tell, but we'd say it seems likely that the white-and-black PS5 won't be the only option... at least not in the long term. Watch this space, folks!
READ MORE: Incredible PS5 vs PS4 graphics comparison video
Has Sony commented on the PS5 colours?
Eric Lempel, the Head of Global Marketing at PlayStation, gave fans an insight into the status of PS5 variants in an interview with Geoff Keighley after his DualSense controller hands-on event.
"Right now, it's a hard enough job to get the unit we showed out," Lempel admitted, "we'll talk about it at some point."
Lempel seems to be hinting that different-coloured consoles may be coming down the line, but not until after the release of the standard PlayStation 5 this year.
READ MORE: PS5 RGB: Will the lights on the PlayStation 5 have customisable colours?
Wait, there's a gold PS5?
TrulyExquisite, who describe themselves as "the UK's Premier Luxury Customisation Brand" has released images of a custom gold PlayStation 5 console they intend to make.
Their custom PS5's will be available in 24k Gold, Platinum and 18k Rose Gold. You can learn more on their website.
READ MORE: PS5 timed exclusives: What’s the point of temporary exclusivity?
Will we get a Special Edition PS5?
While this looks like it may just be a mock-up from a fan of The Last of Us 2, the official Facebook page for the game shared an image of a custom TLOU2 PS5.
The PS5 features Ellie's iconic fern tattoo embossed on the side of the console and the Fireflies logo on the front.
This gives us a good idea of what a Special Edition PlayStation 5 could look like. While it is still in the two-tone black and white that the PS5 was first shown off in, it does suggest that those close to Sony are pushing for Special Edition consoles.
Hopefully, we get a chance to pick up this console in the future! We'll keep our eyes peeled for more news on the PS5 colours...
READ MORE:Does the PS5 support cross-play with the PS4?
PS5 pre-orders are live NOW for the white version
As promised, PS5 pre-orders began on 17th September 2020, with retailers around the world scrambling to get their product pages online - and customers racing to place orders before stocks ran out. But it's only the white one you can order, at the moment, unless you want that really expensive gold one.
For fans in the UK, the retailer Curry's is one place that seemed to have the white PS5 in stock recently: you can click right here to go to the Curry's PS5 page, but you might have to wait in a queue for a while before being able to order one.
Things are not looking good at Amazon right now: at the time of this sentence being written, the Amazon product page for the PS5 Standard Edition in the UK says 'Currently Unavailable', which means the first wave of stock may have run out. You can click here to check the Amazon page, though - it might have updated since we wrote this.
The PS5 Digital Edition also seems to be out of stock at Amazon - you can click here to check out the product page for that one.
There is also a whole family of official PS5 products, from headsets to charging stations, which are available to order now - you can click here to check out the range.
CLICK HERE: Check out the PS5 tie-in products!